Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 56107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 224(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 224(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
“And?” Logan says again.
“And then we wait for them to leave for the day.”
“You want to break into their house and grab Carter ourselves?”
“It’s an option. A pretty good one, considering Skippy can turn off all the cameras. The Gusanos won’t even know we were there.”
“And just what do you think will happen when they find out Carter’s missing?”
“Ah. By then we’ll have Carter somewhere safe, and we can release the footage of Carter being taken by Roman Gusano. Carter can say he escaped on his own or something like that. You and I don’t have to be involved at all.”
Logan’s blue eyes flicker. “Hmph.”
“Hmph, what?” I ask.
“I’m surprised that someone so stupid can be so smart.”
He just called me stupid? “I’m a smart person who did a stupid thing, Mr. Sticky Nuts. And you of all people should know better than to judge a person based on a single event or aspect of their lives.”
“Sorry, I was out of line. You’re not stupid. You’re crazy.”
All the other times he’s insulted me, I let it roll off. But now, for whatever reason, his words really sting. Maybe because now that he’s real, so are my feelings for him. Yes, I barely know the man, but that’s the point. I want to get to know him, versus Carter, who I just wanted to get away from.
“So I’m a trailer-park whore, and I’m crazy.” I bob my head. “At least I know where I stand.”
“Carter told you I said that, huh?”
“Yep,” I reply.
“I only called you that so Carter would back off. He has a big hang-up on class. Probably has to do with his false sense of grandeur. He hates the suburbs especially.”
Guess that would explain why he snubbed my house. I look up at Logan, who is six one compared to me at five six, so I have to crane my neck. “Why did you want him to back off?”
“Because I…” His voice drops off.
“You what?”
He meets my gaze. “As I already said, I liked you.”
Strange. In an odd way, I take his extremely offensive comment as a compliment. He really wanted to make an impression on Carter, so he went for the worst possible thing he could say.
“So you really said that to degrade me in your brother’s eyes?” I ask.
“Yes.”
“Because you wanted me for yourself,” I say.
“Yes.”
Blood races through my veins. He genuinely likes me. Or liked? I need to know. “And now? How do you feel about me?”
“I’d probably leave out the trailer-park part—really has no bearing on any of this—and you’re clearly not a whore.”
“So I’m just trashy and crazy,” I conclude.
“Something like that.”
He’s really going for the jugular. “Okaaay. Good to know.” I exhale. “Well, for the record, when we first met, I knew all about Mr. Sticky Nuts, but I prayed it wasn’t you.”
“Why?”
“Because I liked you, too, and I knew I’d never be able to share a man like you. Not with anyone.”
He stares with scorn in his eyes but doesn’t say anything.
I nod, accepting defeat. “I’ll make sure Sofie starts posting my heartfelt apology and retraction until it sticks. And after we get Carter back, you won’t hear from me again.”
“Good. Now, if you don’t mind, I have work to do.” He starts walking toward the building. “Let me know if your surveillance friend has any news about Carter. I’ll give you two hours—until the end of my workday—or I’m calling the police.”
Ohmygod. This is his studio. This is where he films.
I watch Logan’s tall, substantial frame disappear inside the gray building, but I don’t leave. I know I should go, and I know what I’m thinking is wrong, but… I want to watch.
I could just throw down the two hundred dollars for a full subscription. Or I could sneak inside.
What the hell is the matter with me? I can’t invade his privacy.
Then again, his show isn’t really private, now is it?
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
I wait ten minutes before I head for the same door Logan entered. I figure if he’s busy livestreaming, he won’t see me come in.
If the entrance is locked, as I suspect it will be, then I’ll take it as a sign I’m not supposed to be here.
Does it register in my mind that with everything going on—I just quit my job, Carter has been kidnapped by coconut farmers slash drug lords, and I ruined a man’s life who’s trying to pay for his dying mother’s care—that perhaps now’s not the time to sate my sexual curiosity when it comes to Logan’s work?
Yep. It’s completely wrong, but I can’t help thinking this might be my one and only chance for a front-row seat to the live performance. And honestly, I went into this whole thing convinced I needed to push my boundaries.
This absolutely qualifies.
Still, I’m not sure how I’ll feel. Will I be able to still see the man and not the confection if I do this? Will this completely cure my attraction now that I’ve learned he’s not a made-up person? I don’t know, but the curiosity is killing me.